There’s one month before the MLB post season and the Yankees have looked better than fans would have you believe. Despite glaring issues, they have won six of their last seven games before September started. However, those games were against the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox, non-heavyweight teams, which does not ease the minds of Yankees fans. To understand our current position, we need to look back.
This really starts post-2023 season, so here’s a quick refresher. The Yankees came dangerously close to finishing below .500, with an 82-80 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, described the season as a disaster because the “[Yankees] didn’t win a division, [nor make] the playoffs.” Brian Cashman, GM of the Yankees, described the team as “pretty [expletive] good,” and in the eyes of many fans, contradicting what he said back in August of the same year This disconnect with the front office and manager Aaron Boone compared to what fans see on the field, is central to understanding the stress that Yankees fans have thrown themselves into.
The Juan Soto acquisition was necessary because after that, it felt like they were ready to improve and take the next step — and for a majority of the 2024 season it felt that way, save for the 13 losses that sting badly. They win the division and the pennant, get to the World Series after 15 years, and blow their chance. FOX Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt described it as “one of the ugliest innings you’ll see in baseball history.” Even Aaron Rodriguez, who was on the team that got reverse-swept by the Red Sox in 2004, said that that was “the worst collapse” he had seen in 40 years.
So, what does the team do from here? Well, they do a lot—and the good parts are pretty.
The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal to replace Anthony Rizzo at first base. Although he had a solid start with a .278/.328/.420 batting line throughout the season so far, his performance has declined significantly since June, raising questions about his future with the team. They also acquired Cody Bellinger from the Cubs, who has excelled as a defensive outfielder and is contributing offensively with a .279/.333/.504 slash line. His recent hot streak has been a welcome boost and while it’s uncertain if he’ll stay long-term, his addition is appreciated.
And, of course, we have the Captain of the Yankees, Aaron Judge. Getting off to a very hot start — hotter than last year — he was the driver of the offense, with a near .400 batting average until a brief stint on the IL. Save for voter fatigue, he’s poised to win the AL MVP award again, but there is some contention regarding Cal Raleigh.
Through the good, though, there has been some worry, most notably with how unlucky Ben Rice has gotten at the plate recently and the cold period Austin Wells has been going through. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has had his ups and downs as a hitter, but he has recently been more consistent and productive offensively.
Pitching has always been a hot-button concern for the Yankees, especially when ace Gerrit Cole had Tommy John surgery and will therefore miss the entirety of the 2025 season — and it came back to haunt them. Max Fried, a key free agent signing, started strong, but his ERA rose from 1.92 to 5.81 since July 1. He developed a blister on his finger during a July 12 game against the Cubs, partly explaining his high ERA—pitching with an injury is not ideal. On the other hand, Carlos Rodon, acquired in 2023 — initially sour but improved over 2024 — has had a rollercoaster season with control issues. Over seven games, he issued five walks three times, boosting his ERA from 2.95 to 4.78 in those starts.
However, the two major concerns lie with two players: Devin Williams and Anthony Volpe.
Williams, before joining the Yankees, was one of the top relievers in the game, but after a series of starts in which his ERA ballooned to over seven, he’s quickly drawn the ire of many fans. At the same time, Volpe’s shortfalls rely on his defense, deteriorating from Golden Glove Caliber, like we saw in his rookie year, to errors that caused four runs in a game. His hot streaks aren’t long, and his cold streaks are arctic.
In terms of the month ahead, half of it is filled with teams that will most likely make the playoffs: the Houston Astros, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Detroit Tigers and the rival Boston Red Sox. They have the talent and the power to win these games if they want to. Yet, the scouting report from the Dodgers last year still rings true in some clips that will stick with fans more than the games themselves – the mental errors will catch up with this team.